Support for Revitalizing Church and Community Project

Project Number:

981806

Start Date:

Monday, November 1, 1999

End Date:

Tuesday, December 31, 2002

Abstract:

David Ostendorf implemented two strategic goals for the Center for New Community. First, he expanded its Revitalizing Church and Community project to three new sites (Illinois, Montana, and Kansas), which included 10 new congregational clusters per site. In order to revitalize a community, the CNC implemented the following method. First, they listened to the social, economic, and political needs within the community. Second, they worked within local churches to develop contextual Bible study and theological reflection on how to meet those needs. At this point they cultivated trust relationships between the community members for action, and enabled them to self-initiate further community revitalization projects.

Wilhelmy's addition as Director of Development for the CNC fulfilled the second goal. He studied the volunteer relationships and public relations impact the CNC had in several communities through questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with volunteers and community members. He tabluated these results and articulated strenghts and weaknesses of the CNC, and from this survey constructed a two-year development plan for stregthening volunteer and donor/financial support.(MG)